Peanut butter cookies- made with coconut flour

So my friend Liz got me hooked on this new diet- using almond flour and coconut flour in place of wheat flour or white flour- so I found this recipe for peanut butter cookies with coconut flour...

1/2 cup Coconut flour- whole foods has Bob's Red Mill- $6.99 for a pound
1 cup all natural peanut butter- whole foods- I got the cashew peanut butter
1 1/2 cup brown sugar- I used splenda brown sugar- truvia doesn't work
4 eggs
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Heat oven to 375- bake for 15 minutes

Mix the PB, sugar, eggs and vanilla- add flour- place on greased cookie sheet-



I overall liked them, Steve not so much- it is a different texture, but good..try em.

Our "kids"

Since I am feeling so much better I am catching up on the blog...I realized that I have not posted any pics of our babies....I adopted Marvin, Chocolate Lab, over 2 years ago from the shelter- such a good boy, got him when he was 11 weeks old...Brody, Rott with the blue hankie, is Steve's dog..he is in love with Steve, he is 7 years old and Chloe, Rott, she was Steve's brother's dog, when he moved we adopted her..she is so sweet and loving...glad we got her and finally, Zoey, my tabby cat..I got her in college she is 7...she is finally getting along with the other dogs...so we are a happy full family!

The NEW dining room!

AHHHH Finally done with the painting- I HATE PAINTING-- I thought that I could re-paint our dining room after surgery, so I did...first time working with dark paint and let me tell you this whole process kicked my butt! I had know idea how hard it was to paint dark colors, you can see every error- mainly the stroke lines...you can see the previous color- BORING...anyways I really like it, looks really rich- so proud of myself, one that I actually finished it all by myself and that I started it 3 weeks post surgery...but I did it...hope you like it.

6 weeks = fully recovered!

Ahh that sounds so nice....excited to start working out and living my life! I feel really good- more energy and just feel good...10-15 pounds lighter, that is always nice too! Getting back at it...finally able to have a marriage with my husband of 4 months..been a full time job working with this blood sugar, we have been focusing on that, not been able to enjoy our new lives together- so now it starts! The new diet seems to be working with my sugars....so all is shaping up!

Whole foods weekend-

Ok I went to whole foods three different times this weekend...Liz, Steve wants to kill me! Got a bunch of different items- Raw honey, Grape seed oil, Coconut oil, Almond flour...which was $15 BTW! Anyways, made my first gluten free items this morning...Liz's website- http://jerselizabeth.com/ has great recipes, so I thought that I would try one...Banana bread...made with almond flour and the honey and coconut oil...it turned out really good! A little grainy from the almond flour, but Steve had two pieces and me too! Well, ok, I had three small pieces....tomorrow night for dinner I am trying out her veggie casserole....excited to be making these new recipes can't go wrong with the gluten free lifestyle! Also been reading up on the low glycemic index to help lower my blood sugars....I will let you know how the casserole comes out!

On to a new road with my diet!

Thanks be to my dear, sweet friend, Liz...she got me almost obsessed with the hunter-gatherer foods...All of this was stemmed from my high sugar levels and watching to make sure that I don't become a diabetic after the 40% of pancreas being removed. My doctor thinks that the pancreas may not be producing enough insulin--UGH...so anyways after Liz told me about all of the issues with gluten and glycemic index and all of it...so I am trying to become more aware of what I am eating...trying to avoid all dairy- got some Almond milk from Whole Foods- thanks to Liz- low GI...and I love it! Also trying to avoid grains, bread and sugar- focusing more on meats and veggies and fruit- getting natural sugars from fruit....I am really excited about this, if this can help lower my blood sugars then maybe I can avoid diabetes...anything but diabetes! So thank you Liz...I really am looking forward to this new road....keep you posted!

First Appointment with Endocrinologist

Today is almost 5 weeks out from surgery, I am feeling really good, I mean surprised with my recovery...but anyways met with Dr Abraham today and she is a little worried about my sugar levels, yesterday morning it was the highest it has ever been at 122..normal fasting level is 70-99- so we are checking on that and going to try to reevaluate those levels. Also she said that she is almost positive that I will have
gestational diabetes when I am pregnant so will have to deal with that when the time comes...but overall she was really happy with my recovery and couldn't believe I was back to work and back to a normal life only 4 weeks out....what can I say, I am super woman! Just kidding....well talk to you soon!

Happy Valentine's Day!!

We had a great first valentine's day as husband and wife! It was fun...I made steak for Steve and king crab legs for me...yummy! Dessert was a heart shaped Dairy Queen Cake...Steve has never had one...can you believe that? My parents got me one for almost ever birthday...he really liked it....hope you all had a great Valentine's day....

4 weeks today!

Today is the 4 week mark of the surgery- I am really feeling good- my levels are still higher than normal, but I think that will take a while to adjust to normal...felt so good that I even painted the dining room this weekend, one wall- cranberry color- all by myself! Love it...Have an appointment with my endocrinologist on the 17th to see how my sugars are and just to check in...but overall 4 weeks out I am kicking butt! I swear my body handles surgery so well, just seem to be able to get back to it quicker...thank goodness for that! Well here is the 4 week picture of my incision....talk soon!

Back at it....

I am back now...well back at work for 1/2 days. Can't believe it has been 3 weeks today! Seems like it was so long ago...3 weeks ago right now I was getting my epidural and getting ready to go in for the big surgery. I am feeling good 3 weeks after, my energy level is WAY lower than expected and I am still not eating a ton of food..but I am able to do a lot more that I was doing beforehand. My sugar levels are in the 96-110 range which is still not too bad- normal range with fasting is suppose to be 70-99...so I am close...feeling much better though, not missing the mornings where I have no idea what I am doing or where I am....my incision is looking awesome! I mean it is really great- putting vitamin E on it daily to help with the scar, but I am really happy with it...no sun for a full year on it! For those of you who really know me, know that I LOVE THE SUN! My tummy always gets like black...not this year...tankini here I come! Oh well, got to do it to continue with the incision looking tight and not purple...also been getting the final itemized bill from Mayo-- grand total is about $52,000 for the surgery!!!! So glad that we have great insurance...talk soon